August 2013 – Residents at The Royal Star & Garter Home in Richmond have said farewell to the historic Home on Richmond Hill and successfully moved into a brand new, purpose-built, state-of-the-art Home five miles away in Surbiton, Surrey. The new Surbiton Home can accommodate 63 residents and is the second Home to be built as part of the Charity’s modernisation plan. It is fully equipped to offer brilliant care for the evolving physical needs of ex-Service men and women, and specialist dementia care.

Leaving nothing to chance, the Home set up a task force responsible for delivering a seamless move, ensuring that the moving process was as stress-free and inclusive as possible for residents, relatives and staff at the Richmond Home. Every aspect of the move was carefully and sensitively planned, from logistics to medical considerations. A Moving-In Coordinator was also appointed to liaise with residents and relatives, supporting them before, during and after the move.

Pauline Shaw, Director of Care and Service Development at The Royal Star & Garter Homes, led the team which planned the move and commented on the moving process: “Moving house can be a stressful event for people and we recognised that leaving our Richmond Home would be an emotional and nostalgic time. We placed residents and their care at the heart of our decisions – and we are delighted to report that they are now settling into their new Home and environment very well.”

An important part of the moving plan was providing residents with the opportunity to choose their own room decor and thus put their own stamp on their living environment at the new Surbiton Home – which was very well received. Residents were shown 6 whole room décor choices on ‘mood boards’ which included curtain fabrics, cushions, furniture wood colour finish and wall colour from a palette of colours provided by our interior designer. To assist residents in deciding which colour they would like, we used tester pots and painted samples onto walls in spare rooms in the Home, which really helped. Residents and relatives were delighted to be involved in making their selections and loved the colours and fabrics available. During the move, Pauline was on hand with her dedicated team of staff and volunteers at Richmond to wish residents ‘Bon Voyage’ whilst Mike Barter, Chief Executive and staff and volunteers welcomed residents to their new home after which they were shown to their brand new rooms.

Mike comments: “It was a privilege to welcome the residents as they arrived at the Home and show them the fantastic, warm and homely environment awaiting them.  We look forward to making them comfortable here and supporting them in living life to the full.”